3beta-cycloalkylacyloxy -17beta-hydroxy-17alpha-ethynyl-5-androstenes and androstanes and their preparation



United States Patent 3B-CYCLOALKYLACYLOXY 17B --HYDROXY 17a- ETHY N YL ANDROSTENES AND ANDRO- STANES AND THEIR PREPARATION Raymond Clinton, North Greenbush Township, and Arthur L. Beyler, Albany, N. Ya, assignors to Sterling Drug Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application July 21,1955

Serial No. 523,612

Claims. c1.'260-s97.s

- 9 stimulates the tests to develop sex cells, while the ICSH brings about production of the testicular hormone. In the female FSH brings about the growth of the Graafian follicle while the ICSH stimulates ovulation, development of corpus luteum and the production of progesterone. Thus any agent which interferes with the pituitary secretion of FSH and ICSH will perforce aifect the development and endocrine function of the testes and ovaries. Such an agent is useful in the treatment of endo crinological disturbances such as menopausal syndrome, endometriosis, postpartum breast engorgement, benign prostatic hypertrophy, functional uterine bleeding, chronic cystic mastitis and suppression or termination ofreproductive processes.

The steroidal hormones, estradiol and testosterone, are pituitary inhibitors but their use leads to very undesirable effects such as feminization and masculinization respectively, and in other ways creating a sexual imbalance. Thus, for these steroidal hormones, .the ratio of the pituitary inhibition (anti-FSHand anti-ICSH) to the estrogenic or androgenic activity is low due to the fact that the pituitary elaboration of gonadot-ropin is inhibited but the sex accessory organs are-stimulated.

Our new compounds are much more specific than the steroidal hormones as pituitary inhibitors because of their low estrogenic and androgenic activity. The estrogenic activity of our new compounds varies from $5 to i that of estradiol and the androgenic acivity is of such a low order that it can not be measured unless doses,

much too high to have physiological significance, are

compounds in a vegetable oil such as cottonseedoil can.

be used if desired. Alternatively, the compounds can be administered orally as mg. capsules or tablets. The compounds are active at a level of 0.24 rugs/kg. body weight.

The compounds of the invention are new mono esters 'ice "Patented Apr. 8, 1958 '2 l of 17a -'ethynylandrostane 319,175 diol having the formula on. 5 CH3 czon andjof 17a. ethy'nyl 5 androstene 3,9,17flidiol hav- 5 ing theformula CECE v jot:

wherein Ris a 5-6-membered cycloalkylalkanoyl radical having from 1 to about 8 carbon atomsiin the alkanoyl portion. The invention also relates to a method for preparation of these new compounds. In the above general formulas, R is a cycylolkylalkanoyl radical wherein the cycloalkyl group is a 5-6-membered ring which can be substituted by'lower-alkyl groups and the alkanoyl portion of the radical has from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms. Thus R can be cycloalkylalkanoyl radicals such as cyclohexylformyl, cyclopentylformyl, cyclopentylacetyl, B -cyclohexylpropionyl, oz cyclohexylpropionyl, 'y cyclopentylbutyryl, p cyclopentylbutyryl, cyclohexylisobutyryl, ;6 (2 methylcyclohexyhvaleryl, 'y cyclohexylcaproyl, w (3 ethylcyclopentyl)caproyl, 4o cyclohexylheptanoyl, w cyclopentyloctanoyl and the Our new compounds are prepared by esterification of 17a ethynylandrostane 35,1713 -,diol and 17a ethynyl- 5 androstene 3,8,175 diol with a cycloalkylalkanoic acylating agent such as the appropriate cycloalkylalkanoic acid anhydride or acid halide under anhydrous conditions. The mono esters thus obtained are readily purified by crystallization or chromatographic separation on silica gel. The hydroxyl group in the 3-position is esterified before the same group in the 17-position because the former is a secondary alcohol whereas the latter is a tertiary alcohol. A hydroxyl group at the 17-position,

which also carries a further substituent, is sterically hin- I dered and henceless reactive than the unhindered 3-hy- 'droxyl group. Since diester formation proceeds at a much slower rate dueto steric hindrance, the reaction can be carried out under conditions which aiford the mono esters in good yields. I I

In practicing our invention, we prefer to esterify the appropriate diol with an acid anhydride at room temperature under anhydrous conditions. After standing for 24-36 hours, the reaction mixture is quenched in water or dilute acid'to give the mono esters in efii'ciencies of 80-90%. Under these conditions, any diester formation is suppressed to such an extent that a simple recrys- 'ta'llization "is all that is necessary for obtention of pure mono esters. Although solutions of the mono esters containing some of the corresponding diester can be used, it is preferable to use the pure compounds in therapy.

The desired compounds can also be obtained by passage of the quenched reaction mixtures, resulting from the action of an acid anhydride or acid chloride on the apto'the. method described in Example -1.

' (1% in chloroform).

propriate diol, through a chromatographic'column. Due to their greater solubility in the eluting mixture, any diester is eluted from the column first and may be recovered if -desired. The monoestersareobtained by evaporation EXAMPLE 1 319 (,8 cyclohexylpropionoxy) 17B hydroxy 17aethynyl-5-a ndrostene A mixture of 3.1 g. of 17a-ethynyl-5-androstene-3B,l7fidiol and 5.9 g. of'fl-cyclohexylpropionic anhydride in '25 ml. of pure, dry pyridine was heated on asteam bathfor one hour under anhydrous conditions. The resulting solution was poured into a mixture of 700 gof ice, 17 ml. of concentrated sulfuric acid and 300 ml. of water and the suspension thus obtained left standing for fourteen hours at room temperature. The mixture was extracted with ether. and the ethereal extract washed with dilute sodium bicarbonate solution, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated to a volume of 100 ml. After dilution with 400 ml. of n-pentane, the solution was chromatographed on 200 g. of silica gel using successive v500 ml. portions of 20% ether-80% n-pentane as eluate. Evaporation of the combined solution of the sevenththrough theeleventh portions gave a crystalline solid which was recrystallized there timesfrom n-hexane to yield 2.10 g. of 3B-(fl-cyclohexylpropionoxy)-17fi-h droxy-17m-ethynyl-5-androstene, M. P. 1l5.2-116.6 C. (corn); [a] =83.8:0.2 (1% in chloroform).

Analysis.--Calcd. for G l-1 C, 79,60, H, 9.80. Found: C, 79.74; H, 9.67.

EXAMPLE 2 3 B r cyclohexylacetoxy 17B hydroxy 17a 4 ethynyl- S-androstene was prepared from 3.14 g.- of 17a-ethynyl- 5-androstene-3B,17B-diol'and 5.33 g. of cyclohexylacetic EXAMPLE a 3ft (w.- cyclohexylvaleroxy), 17 8 hydroxy 17 xethynyl-S-androstene was prepared from 3.14 g. of 17aethynyl-S-androstene-BB,17fl-diol and 7.01 gof .w-cyclohexylvaleric anhydride in 25 ml. of dry pyridine according The 2.60 g. of 35 (w cyclohexylvaleroxy) 17B hydroxy, 17c: ethynyl-S-androstene thus obtained .had the P., 98.0-- l.8 C. (corn); [a] =-79.5;t0.3 (1% in chloroform).

Analysis.--Calcd. for C H O fC, 10.07. Found: C, 80.15; H, 9.88. w

EXAMPLE .4

3,8 (w cyclohexylcaproxy) 17B hydroxy 17aethynyl-S-androstene was prepared from 3.14 g. of 17aethynyl-5-androstene-3Q,17/3 diol and 7.57 g..of w-cyclo-' hexylcaproic anhydride according to the method described 1 in Example 1. The 3fi-(w-cyclohexylcaproxy)-17fi-hydroxy-17a-ethynyl-S-androstene thus obtained, weighed 2.58 g., M.-P.-106.2l0'l.0 C. (corn) ""assopes 1,

the method described in Example 5. The 2.20 g? of Analysis.--Calcd. for C H O C, 80.11; H, 10.19. Found: C, 80.40; H, 10.42.

EXAMPLE 5 3,9 (to cyclohexylcaproxy) 17B hydroxy 17a ethynylandrostane Asolution of 4.0 g. of l7a-ethynylandrostane-3fl,17dt diol and 9.6 g. of w-cyclohexylcaproic anhydride in 25 ml. of dry pyridine was allowed to stand'at 25-432 C. for twenty-four hours whilepr'otected from' moisture. The resulting solution was poured into a mixture of 700 g. of ice, 16 ml. of concentrated sulfuric acid and 300 ml. of water. After standing for one hour, the solid product which separated was removed by filtration, washed with sodium carbonate solution then with water and dried in a vacuum desiccator. After recrystallization from dilute alcohol and from Skellysolve C, 2.05 g. of 3,3 (w cyclohexylcaproxy) 17/8 hydroxy 17aethynylandrostanmM. P. 83.6-85.4 C. (corr.) was obtained; [a] =-28.5i0.4 (1% in chloroform).

Found: C, 79.68; H, 10.83.

EXAMPLE 6 EXAMPLE 7 3p (p cyclohexylpropionoxy) 17 5 -'hydroxy 17dethynylandrostane was prepared from 4.09 g. of 17a ethynylandrostane-S/i,17fl-diol and 7.46 g. of fi-cyclohexylpropionic anhydride in'25 ml. of pyridine according to 3B ()3 I- cyclohexylpropionoxy) 17fi hydroxy-17aethynylandrostane thus obtained hadthe M. P: 91.8- 94.2 C. (corn); [a] ='-30.4i0.4 (1%in chloroform). r

Analysisa-Calcd. for 0 11 0 2 C, 79.24; H,-. 10.20; 0, 10.6. Found: C, 79.60; H, 10.12; 0, 10.6.

EXAMPLE 8 35 ('y cyclohexylbutyroxy) 1713- hydroxy 17a ethynyl-S-androstene drous sodiumsulfate. The solvent was removed and the resulting mobile oil taken up in mlrof n-hexane. The

solid product obtained by cooling of the n-hexane solution was removed by filtration and recrystallized twice from n-hexane to yield 3.0 g. of 3B-(y-cyclohexylbutyroxy)- 17Bhydroxy-l7a-ethynyl-5- androstene, M. P. 108.8- 110.4 C. (corn); [a] =+81.2:0.3 (1% in chloroform). V

Analysis. Calcd. for C I-1 0 Found: C, 79.76; H, 10.25.

EXAMPLE 9- 3fi-cyclohexylcarboxy-17 S-hydroxy-17a-ethynyl-5 androstene was prepared from 3.14 g. of 17a-ethynyl-5- androstene-3fl,l7p-diol and 4.76 g. of cyclohexylcarboxyl- EXAMPLE 10 35- (fl-cyclopentylpropionoxy) -1 713-hydroxy-1 7aethynylandrostane A cold solution of 3.1 g. of 17a-ethynylandrostane- 3 3,17,8-diol in 10 ml. of pure, dry pyridine was treated with 3.3 g. of fi-cyclopentylpropionyl chloride. The resulting solution was left standing for sixteen hours at room temperature under anhydrous conditions then poured into 600 ml. of cold water. The solid product which separated was extracted into an ether-methylene dichloride mixture and the extract washed with dilute hydrochloric acid and dilute potassium carbonate solutions. After drying over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, the organic extract was evaporated to dryness and the residual oil dissolved in a 20% ether-80% n-pentane mixture. This solution was chromatographed on a column containing 300 g. of silica gel and the column was eluted with successive 500 ml. portions of 20% ether-n-pentane mixture. Evaporation of the seventh through the eleventh eluates gave crystalline residues which were combined and recrystallized three times from n-hexane to yield 0.5 g. of 3B-( it-cyclopentylpropionoxy)-17;8-hydroxy-l7tx-ethynylandrostane, M. P. 125.0-127.50 C. (corn); [a] =30.0:0.3 (1% in chlorofrom).

Analysis.Calcd. for C H O C, 79.04; H, 10.07. FoundrC, 79.31; H, 10.14.

EXAMPLE 11 3B (,6 cyclopentylpropionoxy) 17 3-hydroxy-l7aethynyl-S-androstene was prepared according to the method described in Example 10, from 3.1 g. of 17a-ethynyl- -androstene-3;8,17,8-dio1 and 3.4 g. of B-cyclopentylpropionyl chloride in 25 ml. of pyridine. There was thus obtained 0.85 g. of 3B-(B-cyclopentylpropionoxy)-17;3- hydroxy-17u-ethynyl-5-androstene, M. P. 129.7-131.2 C. (corn); [a] =86.Oi0.3 (1% in chloroform).

Analysis.Calcd. for C H O C, 79.41; H, 9.66. Found: C, 79.30; H, 9.65.

EXAMPLE 12 3fi,17;3-(di-fl-cyclohexylpropionoxy)-17a-ethynyl- 5-androstene A mixture of 3.1 g. of 17a-ethynyl-5-androstene-3{3, 17/9-diol and 8.9 g. of ,B-cyclohexylpropionic anhydride in 50 ml. of anhydrous pyridine was refluxed under anhydrous conditions for eighteen hours. The clear solution was poured into a mixture of 600 g. of ice, 20 ml. of concentrated sulfuric acid and 200 ml. of water and the resulting suspension thoroughly extracted with ether. The ether extract was washed with dilute sodium bicarbonate, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in npentane and poured through a chromatographic column containing 300 g. of silica gel. The column was successively eluted with nine 500 ml. portions of n-pentane and with nineteen 500 ml. portions of 5% ether-95% n-pentane. The fourteenth through the eighteenth eluates were combined and evaporated to yield a white solid. After two recrystallizations from n-pentane and a third recrystallization from alcohol, there was obtained 1.0 g. of 3B,17p-(di-B-cyclohexylpropionoxy)-17a-ethynyl-5-androstene, M. P. 114.0-115.6 C. (corn); [a] 61.0:0.2 (1% in chloroform). A mixed melting point with the corresponding 3-mono ester gave a substantial depression.

6 Analysis;-Calcd. for -C H O C, 79.27"; H, 9539, d= 7 47; H, 10.06. 9 7

EXAMPLE 1s 3p [fi-(4 methylcyclohxyl)propionoxyfl l7/3-hydroxy- 17a-ethynyl-androstane can be prepared. ffoiii 5-."(4- methylcyclohexyl)propionic acid and i7a -ethynylandrostane-3,B,l7/3-diol according to the method described in Example 10.

EXAMPLE 14 35 (a cyclopentylpropionoxy) 17/8-hydroxy-17aethynyl-S-androstene can be prepared from 17u-ethynyl- 5-androstene-3/3,17fi-diol and a-cyclopentylpropionic acid according to the method described in Example 10.

We claim:

1. A compound selected from the group consisting of 313 cycloalkylacyloxy 17B hydroxy-17a-ethynylandrostanes and SB-cycloalkylacyloxy-17p-hydroxy-17u-ethyny1- S-androstenes wherein the cycloalkyl group is a 5-6- membered ring and the acyl group is an alkanoyl radical having from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms.

2. A 318 cycloalkylacyloxy 17/3-hydroxy-17a-ethynylandrostane wherein the cycloalkyl group is a 6-membered ring and the acyl group is an alkanoyl radical having from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms.

3. A 3,6 cycloalkylacyloxy-17,8-hydroxy-17a-ethynyl- S-androstene wherein the cycloalkyl group is a 6-membered ring and the acyl group is an alkanoyl radical having from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms.

4. A 3 8 cycloalkylacyloxy-17fi-hydroxy-l7a-ethynylandrostane wherein the cycloalkyl group is a 5-membered ring and the acyl group is an alkanoyl radical having from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms.

5. A 3,8-cycloalkylacyloxy-17,6-hydroxy-17a-ethynyl-5- androstene wherein the cycloalkyl group is a 5-membered ring and the acyl group is an alkanoyl radical having from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms.

6. 3,8 cyclohexylpropionoxy-17fl-hydroxy-17d-ethynyl- S-androstene.

7. 3/3 cyclohexylcarboxy-17fl-hydroxy-17a-ethynyl-5- androstene.

8. The process of preparing a 3fl-cycloalkylacyloxy- 17,6-hydroxy-17a-ethynylandrostane which comprises reacting 17a-ethynylandrostane-3 3,l7fi-diol with a cycloalkylalkanoic anhydride.

9. The process of preparing a 3/3-cycloalkylacyloxy- 17fl-hydroxy-17u-ethynyl-5-androstene which comprises reacting 17a-ethynyl-S-androstene-Bfl,17p-diol with a cycloalkylalkanoic anhydride.

10. The process of preparing a Ftp-cycloalkylacyloxy- 17/8-hydroxy-17a-ethynyl-androstane which comprises reacting 17a-ethynyl-5androstene-3 3,17B-diol with a cycloalkylalkanoic acid halide.

11. The process of preparing a 3p-cycloalkylacyloxy- 17p-hydroxy-l7a-ethynyl-5-androstene which comprises reacting 17u-ethynyl-5-androstene-3 3,l7fi-diol with a cycloalkylalkanoic acid halide.

12. The process of preparing a compound selected from the group consisting of 3 fi-cycloalkylacyloxy-l7/3-hydroxy- 17a-ethynylandrostanes and 3fl-cycloalkylacyloxy-17p-hydroxy-17a-ethynyl-5-androstenes which comprises reacting 17a-ethynylandrostane-3B,17,6-diol and l7u-ethynyl- 5-androstene3p,17fl-diol with a cycloalkylalkanoic acylating agent.

13. 3/3 3-cyclopentylpropionoxy)-17fi-hydroxy-17aethynylandrostane.

14. 3B (w cyclohexylcaproxy) 17fi-hydroxy-17aethynylandrostane.

15. 3,9 cyclohexylcarboxy-l7fl-hydroxy-l7a-ethynylandrostane.

16. 318 (fl-cyclohexylpropionoxy)-1713-hydroxy-17aethynylandrostane.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,830,063 April 8, 1958 Raymond 0. Clinton et 21.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 30, for cycy1o]kyla1karead --cyc1oalkylalka,---; column 3, line 32, for there reed --three-; line 36, for 79,60 read -79.60; column 4, line 5, in the heading to Example 5, for 470: ethread -17a-eth-; line 52, for ofg read of-; column 5, line 33, for chlorofrom read -ch1oroform-; column 6, line 5, for propionoxyl read propionoxy-.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of July 1958.

Attest: i KARL H. AXLINE, ROBERT 0. WATSON, Attestz'ng Ofioer. V flomzssz'oner of Patents. 

1. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF 3B - CYCLOALKYLACYLOXY - 17B - HYDROXY-17A-ETHYNYLANDROSTANES AND 3B-CYCLOALKYLACYLOXY-17B-HYDROXY-17A-ETHYNYL5-ANDROSTENES WHEREIN THE CYCLOALKYL GROUP IS A 5-6MEMBERED RING AND THE ACYL GROUP IS AN ALKANOYL RADICAL HAVING FROM 1 TO ABOUT 8 CARBON ATOMS.
 12. THE PROCESS OF PREPARING A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF 3B-CYCLOALKYLACYLOXY-17B-HYDROXY17A-ETHYNYLANDROSTANES AND 3B-CYCLOALKYLACYLOXY-17B-HYDROXY-17A-ETHYNYL-5-ANDROSTENES WHICH COMPRISES REACTING 17A-ETHYNYLANDROSTANE-3B,17B-DIOL AND 17A-ETHYNYL5-ANDROSTENE-3B,17B-DIOL WITH A CYCLOALKYLALKANOIC ACYLATING AGENT. 